Automatic golf-ball tee



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ITTOR/YEX Patented Aug. 2, 1927.

UNITED. STATES- THOMAS c. ROBERTS, or LONG BE CH; camronuxa.

AUTOMATIC GOLF-BALL TEE;

Application filed May 28, 1927. Serial No. 194,886.

An object of my invention is to provide a golf game in which the ball is automatiing drawing, the subioined-detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my tee in playing position. I

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the teeing plunger in lowered position. I

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the plunger in raised position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the plunger control valve.

Referring more particularly to the drawmg: p

My automatic golf ball tee 1 is placed. a

suitable distance in front of a back-stop or' target 2. against which the balls are adapted to be driven, and a tray, incline, or the like 3 is formed in front oft-he backstop 2 to receive and collect the balls after they are driven. I p 7 An opening 4 is provided through the floor in the front of the tray 3 and a pipe 5 extends from the opening 4 to a vertical tube 6 set in front of the back-stop 2 at any convenient' distance. The ipe 5is set on an incline so that the balls will roll by gravity to the tube 6. .A hole 7 is provided in the floor which hole opens into the tube 6 and the golf balls 8 are adapted to pass through said hole as will be further described.

A plunger 9 is reciprocallv mounted in the tube 6 and a golf tee 10 is secured to the top of the plunger 9. The tee 10 is preferably made of a section of rubber hose so that it will not break or rear the club when struck by the player. A cylinder 11 is mounted and jacent the tube 6 and a piston 12 is provided in said cylinder. A. pitman 13 rises from the piston 12 and a link 14 is secured to the top of the pitman 13 and to the plunger 9. A slot 15 is provided in. the side of the tube. 6 to accommodate the link 14 and to permit the plunger 9 to move upwardly and downwardly following the movement of the pitman 13.

I An oil pump 16 is driven by suitable means, such-as the electric motor 17 and the intake for the pump is provided through a pipe 18 that extends from a sump 19. An outlet pipe 20 extends from the pump 16 to the bottom of the cylinder-11 and during the operation of the pump the liquid will be forced into the cylinder, raising the piston 12 and pitman 13, and carrying the plunger 9 upwardly toa point where the golf ball 8 rises through the hole 7 in a properposition to be struck by the player. a

An outlet-pipe 21 is provided in the top of the cylinder 11.. said outlet pipe draining into the sump 19. Thus it will be seen that when the piston 12 rises above the pipe 21 that the liquid will flow through the pipe and will not raise the piston further. Thus I provide a gradual start and stop which will not dislodge the ball from the tee 10. The pump 16 operates continuously therefore the piston 12 will remain in a raised position.

When it is desired to carry a new ball into striking position the liquid in the cylinder 11 is drained therefrom as follows: A bellcrank lever 22 is pivoted under the floor and a pin 23 extends through the floor and bears against an arm of the bellcrank 22. A cable 24 is secured to the other arm of the bellcrank levcr22 and extends to a rack 25. which rack meshes with a gear 26 secured to the plug of avalve 27onthe bottom of the cvlinder 11. Thus it will be seen that when the pin-23 is depressed the rack 25 will be moved upwardly to openth'e valve 27 and allowing the liquid in the cylinder 11 to quickly drain therefrom intothe sump 19. Upon releasing the pin 23 a spring 28 bears aofainst the rack 25 and closes the valve 27 The pump 16 again fills the cylinder 11 with liquid raising the piston 12 and carrying the ball 8 into striking position. Thus it will be seen that it is only necessary to depress the pin 23 when a new ball is desired.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An automatic golf ball tee comprising hydraulic cylinder. means to supply liquid to said cylinder. a tee. means operatively connecting said cylinder and tee. and means to release the liquid from said cylinder when it is desired to depress the tee and replace aball thereon.

2. An automatic golf ball teeadapted to be positioned in front of a target, a ball collector, a pipe extending from said ball collector, a hydraulic cylinder, pump means adapted to force liquid into said cylinder, a

tee, means operatively connecting said tee and cyhnder, sald pipe extending to ad acent said tee, and means to release the liquid from said cylinder whereby the tee is depressed to receive another ball from the pipe.

3. An automatic golf ball tee adapted to be positioned in front of a stop, a ball collector, a pipe extending from said ball collector through which the balls are adapted to roll by gravity, a tube, a tee in said tube, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means connecting said'piston and tee, a pump connected to said cylinder, and manual means to release the pressure in said cylinder whereby the piston and tee are adapted to be lowered so that a new ball is positioned on the tee, said manual means comprising a valve on said cylinder, a pin adapted to be depressed bythe player, and a cable extending from said-pin to said valve.

5, An automatic golf ball tee adapted to be positioned in front of the back-stop, a ball collector, a pipe extending from said collector throughwhich the balls are adapted to rollby gravity, a tube into which said pipe extends, a teereciprocally mounted in said tube, aicylinder, apiston in said cylinder, a pitman extending from said piston, a link connecting "said pitman and tee, a fluid pump, a pipe extending from said fluid pump intothe bottom of said cylinder, an

outlet pipe extending from adjacent the top of said cylinder, and manually actuated.

means adapted to release the fluid in said cylinder.

6. An automaticgolf ball tee adapted to be positioned in front of the back-stop, a ball collector, a pipe extending from said collector through which the. balls are adapted to rollby gravity, a tube into which said pipe extends, a tee reciprocally mounted in said tube, acylinder, a piston in said cylinder, apit-man extending from said piston, a link connecting said pitman and tee, a fluid pump, a pipe extending from said fluid pump into the bottom of said cylinder, an outlet pipe extending from adjacent the top of said cylinder, and manually actuated means adapted to release the fluid in said cylinder, said means comprising a valve in the bottom of saidcylinder, a gear on said valve, a rack meshing with said gear, and manually operated means adapted to actuate said rack to open and close said valve.

7 An automatic golf ball tee adapted to be positioned in front of the backstop, a ball collector, a. pipe extending from said collector through which the balls are adapted to roll by gravity, a tube into which said pipe extends, a tee reciprocally mounted in:said tube, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a pitman extending from said piston, a link connecting said pitman and tee, a fluid pump, a pipe extending fromsaid fluid pump into the bottom of said cylinder, an outlet pipe extending from adjacent the top ofsaid cylinder, and manually actuated means adapted torelease the fluid in said cylinder, said meanscomprising a valve in the bottom of said cylinder, a gear on said valve, a rack meshing with said gear, spring means engaging said rack whereby the valve is held in closed position, a pin extending through the floor, and a cable connected to said pin and said rack whereby the rack is actuated when the pin is depressed.

In testimony tu-re.

whereof, I afiix -my signa- THOMAS c. ROBERTS. 

